THE SECOND BOOK 245 



although many men more mortal in their affections than 

 in their bodies, do esteem desire of name and memory but 

 as a vanity and ventosity, 



Animi nil magnae laudis egentes, 



which opinion cometh from that root, non prius laudes con- 

 tempsimus, quam laudanda facere desivimus ; yet that will 

 not alter Solomon's judgment, Memoria justi cum laudibus, 

 at impiorum nomen putrescet\ the one flourisheth, the other 

 either consumeth to present oblivion, or turneth to an i 

 odour. And therefore in that style or addition, which is 

 and hath been long well received and brought in use, /<?//' j 

 memoriae, piae memoriae, bonae memoriae, we do acknow- 

 ledge that which Cicero saith, borrowing it from Demos- 

 thenes, that bona fama propria possessio defunctorum ; which 

 possession I cannot but note that in our times it lieth much 

 waste, and that therein there is a deficience. 



For Narrations and Relations of particular actions, there 

 were also to be wished a greater diligence therein; for there 

 is no great action but hath some good pen which attends 

 it. And because it is an ability not common to write a 

 good history, as may well appear by the small number of 

 them ; yet if particularity of actions memorable were but 

 tolerably reported as they pass, the compiling of a complete 

 History of Times might be the better expected, when a 

 writer should arise that were fit for it : for the collection 

 of such relations might be as a nursery garden, whereby 

 to plant a fair and stately garden when time should 

 serve. 



There is yet another portion of history which Cornelius 

 Tacitus maketh, which is not to be forgotten, specially with 

 that application which he accoupleth it withal, Annals and 

 Journals : appropriating to the former matters of estate, 

 and to the later acts and accidents of a meaner nature. 

 For giving but a touch of certain magnificent buildings, he 

 addeth, Cum ex dignitate populi Romani repertum sit, res 

 illustres annalibus, talia diurnis urbis actis mandare. So as 

 there is a kind of contemplative heraldry, as well as civil. 

 And as nothing doth derogate from the dignity of a state 



